VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYE #0313/01 1011257
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101257Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
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RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID//
INFO RHMFIUU/DISAM WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:DSCA-ERASA-ER//
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7378
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDATL/IC//
RUEADWD/HQDA WASHDC//SAAL-NA//
RHMFIUU/CDRUSASAC FT BELVOIR VA//
RUEAHQA/OSAF WASHDC//IA/IARE//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5//
RUEAUSA/CNGB WASHDC//NGB-IA//
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//SAAL-NI//

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000313 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM
SUBJECT:  SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-MARCH 2008 
 
¶1.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:  Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) training 
begins; FY09 SA Planning Coordination meeting conducted by ODC; 
SASWG conducted by EUCOM in Ramstein. 
 
¶2.  SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 
 
    ¶A. On 24 Mar 08, ten Kansas National Guard instructors and two 
representatives from EUCOM's Humanitarian Mine Action program began 
sustainment training with personnel from the Armenian Humanitarian 
Demining Center (AHDC). Training will continue until 8 Apr 08. 
Funding for the Guardsmen and for some of the equipment purchased to 
support the training event in Armenia was provided by EUCOM's HMA 
program. This HMA training follows and supports the FMF delivery of 
new mine detection sets and protective equipment that was provided 
to the AHDC in Jan 08. The AHDC, which is a military facility whose 
personnel are operationally controlled during OIF deployments by the 
Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade, primarily provides demining personnel 
for humanitarian demining missions in Armenia. Training of the unit 
supports NATO IPAP goal 2.3.2: Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. 
 
    ¶B. ODC Armenia conducted its Security Assistance Planning 
Conference from 31 Mar - 1 Apr 08. This conference, which is run by 
the ODC, but attended by representatives from OSD-ISP, ECJ5-BE, 
ECJ4-ID, SAF-IA, DSCA, USASAC, USAFE, KSNG, and CCMR finalizes the 
specific assistance and events that will be conducted in FY09 and 
which are funded by the US security assistance program in Armenia. 
Additionally all SA programs, to include FMF, IMET, JCTP, SPP, CTFP, 
HMA, etc, had their current FY08 status and activities reviewed and 
adjusted, if need be,  to reflect funding fluctuations. 
 
     ¶C. The U.S. European Command conducted the Strategy for Active 
Security Working Group (SASWG) conference 10-14 Mar 08 in Ramstein, 
Germany. At the conference the concepts for the Armenian Country 
Campaign Plan were finalized and presented to the EUCOM components 
and supporting agencies. The identified goals and tasks were further 
incorporated into the  Armenia Country Campaign Plan during the 
ODC's Security Assistance Planning conference held two weeks later 
on 31 Mar- 2 Apr 08. 
 
     ¶D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): 
 
 ¶1. On 29 Mar 08, the ODC received a large shipment of military 
equipment associated with the FMF cases AM-B-BAA and AM-B-BAA A1. 
This equipment for the 1st and 2nd Peacekeeping Battalions largely 
consisted of chemical protection equipment, field cots, battalion 
staff planning equipment, boots and helmets. Two follow-on shipments 
are expected to arrive in early Apr 08 and will complete equipment 
deliveries for the 1st PK Bn and initiate equipment deliveries for 
the 2nd PK Bn. The FMF deliveries support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish 
a Peacekeeping Brigade. 
 
 ¶2. Including the FY08 FMF allocation of approximately $3.0M to be 
provided in the coming months, the total FMF funds remaining after 
obligations are only $1.5M. In meetings with OSD, DSCA and EUCOM, a 
plan was developed to expend the remaining FY08 FMF on a Harris 
Radio Maintenance facility, EDA trucks for the PK forces, and 
additional training for personnel from the Armenian Humanitarian 
Demining Center. Assuming the current political situation in Armenia 
does not further deteriorate, LORs for these acquisitions can be 
expected in the coming weeks. 
 
     ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). No JCTP events were 
scheduled or conducted during the month of March. 
 
     ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP).  One SPP event, "Nursing 
TCT," was postponed due to the local riots and violence that 
occurred on 1 Mar 08 in Yerevan.  The event was rescheduled for Jul 
08 and will familiarize the Armenian Medical Department and EMEDS 
personnel with the duties, responsibilities, and education of 
various US Army nursing positions. 
 
     ¶G. Defense Institution Building (DIB). The Strategic Defense 
Review (SDR) workshop to assist the ARM MOD with developing its SDR 
Team was postponed from 3-7 Mar, until Jul 08 due to the local riots 
and violence that occurred on 1 Mar 08 in Yerevan. All other SDR 
related events tied to this initial SDR event will be rescheduled in 
relation to this initial SDR event. 
 
     ¶H.  Humanitarian Assistance (HA). 
      ¶1. The project initiation meeting for the HA water project was 
conducted on 2 April by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) 
representative from Tbilisi, and the CARD office in Yerevan. The CoE 
will oversee the project through its completion. The stand-alone HA 
event will reconstruct existing water wells in three rural villages 
in Armenia where the current water system has deteriorated to a 
degree that potable water is seldom available. 
 
      ¶2. The ODC submitted three Excess Property requests that are 
now funded and currently being processed and shipped by 
EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. One request is to supply furniture and school 
equipment to two affiliated orphanages for disabled children.  The 
second request is to supply the same items for a boarding school for 
children with disabilities.  A third EP project for fire fighting 
equipment to support the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) is currently 
being coordinated by the BAO and EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. 
 
     ¶H.  International Military Education and Training (IMET): 
English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. 
 
      ¶1.  Training Snapshot 
          Students at DLI:  12 
          Students at Specialty Training:  6 
          E-IMET:  0 
 
      ¶2.  English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing 
          Students tested in March: 6 
 
 
¶3.  PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS 
 
      ¶A.  GAINS:  None. 
 
     ¶B.  LOSSES:  None 
 
     ¶C.  ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. 
 
¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: None 
 
¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS:  LTC Peterson : OSD Policy and Strategy 
Conference in Wash DC, 28 Apr - 3 May 
 
      ¶F.  RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None 
 
     ¶G.  EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS:  None. 
 
¶5.  ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: 
 
¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES:  ODC Chief's final OER due with 
departure of Maj Gen Remkes 
 
     ¶B.  AWARD SUSPENSES: None 
 
     ¶C.  PERSONNEL ACTIONS: None 
 
¶6.  ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS:  The State of Emergency (SoE) that was 
imposed by the Armenian government on 1 Mar 08 in response to 
post-presidential election clashes between protesters and security 
services that left eight dead was lifted on 20 Mar 08. During the 
SoE all EUCOM military-military activities (with the exception of 
humanitarian mine action) were postponed as directed by OSD. With 
the SoE now lifted, the US Charge d'Affaires in Armenia supports 
postponing most mil-mil events until Jul 08 in order to observe the 
policy direction of the new Armenian government. FMF funded medical 
training events in May are preferred to not be affected by these 
postponements, but most JCTP and all Defense Institution Building 
events will be. The Embassy preference is for a measured reduction 
of events versus a complete postponement of all events. OSD-ISA is 
in general agreement and weighing in on specific events. A final 
approach for the coming months should be agreed upon in the coming 
days. The local situation in the coming weeks will further aid in 
determining the rapidity of resuming the full ODC mil-mil schedule 
in Armenia. The Armenian Presidential Inauguration on 9 Apr 08 may 
be a good measure of Armenian public opinion in this regard. 
 
¶7.  POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 
 
37410-49-46-65 
37410-46-47-36(fax) 
petersond@state.gov